Blooming Weather!!

An April shower wont last half an hour.  Well Im not to sure about that one.   It has rained, now for about a week with just the odd hour of sunshine. 

at least the water isnt coming up onto the pavements, since we had the new pumping system put in, no more episodes like  this  (touch wood)


Even the cat doesn't want to go outside.

Im waiting patiently to plant these potatoes, that have been on the  cill for what seems an eternity.

The tulips are looking nice though.  So whilst the weather  stops me from finishing sorting the garden out,  I continue to sew. 

Ive discovered the trick is to have a cutting out session.  So the other week I cut out three items to sew. I shall show you the first one today.  I had seen this pattern on another blog.  



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New Look 6808

I realised I had something similar in this pattern. I thought I could recreate from this and add a collar.

Vogue 8667
Id made this pattern, but wasnt happy with the princess seam. So with the help of a friend I redrafted the top changing the front bust seam and adding a collar.


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Isnt this fabric Soo beautiful. 
A petrol blue with large blossoms, I love it.  Its  36" wide seersucker and I had just over a metre. Just enough to make a sleeveless top, I had to use bias on the seams binding and a contrast material under the collar.

How do you all take photos of yourselves I found it impossible



"With the help of my assistant" Ta Da!! I finally managed something remotely decent.

Ive also been charity shopping.

 A lovely "Douglas" butter dish for £3.00,


Also I bought this a DKNY large clutch bag for the same price 

It has a magnetic fastening and folds over with gold trim.

   



FAKE or GENIUNE. 
Who knows, I wont be disappointed whichever. It was a bargain and I love it. It has a vintage feel about it. I would love to know its age if anyone knows.

Easter Eggs and Bunnies

Hope you all had a Happy Easter and had lots of eggs.  Aren't these rabbits just adorable, such a shame to eat them. YEAH right. Sadly not mine, My son bit into his and  got very excited because he thought it was all solid (the ears were) the little ribbons and bells I have tied around a door knob, as they were too sweet to throw away.


My daughters  best friend, who moved away was visiting York, so we headed out to meet her.  It is over 2 years since they last saw each other. It was an ejoyable Good Friday.  I wandered off  visiting my usual haunts like Cath Kidston.  Fell in love with this bag that was in the shop window.  It instantly reminded me of an embroidery I did years ago. 



A little crumpled as its been in my sewing box for sometime.  Do you think it would work.

I also wandered into York Minster. Such a beautiful pieceful place, amongst all the Bank Holiday mayhem, both inside and out.
 

Finally I would like to tell you about a lovely thankyou present I received from the  Louise over at Gephart 836.   Shes a  talented crafter,  who also writes amusing blogs  and  takes beautiful photos (wish I could).  Please pop over and view her blog.  I so look forward to reading her posts, and also to receiving her comments.    She  reminds me of myself, in many ways.  Burning the tea while on the computer.  Yes I am guilting of that one (I hate cooking) but she is far braver than me and writes about it.   Anyway she very kindly posted me a quilting magazine. I was truly overwhelmed as it was totally unexpected, and it had travelled so far.   My first ever quilting magazine as well, as its a new hobby for me.  Full of patterns, giving exact amounts of fabric, no working out quantities. 





There was a lovely article about a young girl and her adventures in patchwork and sewing. Reminded me of myself. 

She will be a marvellous sewer in years to come.

and also a CD was included. I spotted this tradional quilt pattern, which is very simple and unfussy, maybe for my son.   Thankyou  again Louise, you  make blogging for me Fun. 

Dipping my Toes back into dressmaking

For as long as I can remember I have loved dressmaking, my earliest sewing memory is of me sitting on the doorstep trying to make clothes for Barbie.  When I was 11 years old I started using patterns, making seersucker pyjamas for myself.   One of the reasons I dont dressmake as much I did is the lack of recourses, we used to have 4-5 dress shops near us, now we have only 1. Yes we now have the web, but it just not the same as walking into a shop, drooling, touching, deciding, then walking out of the shop with your treasured purchase.


I have been receiving a subscription to a Sew Direct magazine, which I have really enjoyed reading, purchased some patterns and took the plunge and ordered some fabric (yes the sewing machine has returned) and Im geared to go.   


Here is the pattern that I chose to sew 
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Vogue 1027 a Donna Karan pattern.

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Whereever I stood Milly followed



Dont be decieved by the sun,  It was freezing cold


My fabric arrived. A little on the bright size and not as thick as I thought.  One of the drawbacks of buying on the web. 

No zips or buttons, an elasticated waist, and circular skirt with a wrapover top. It made up easy, though I absolutely hate working with knits (my friend says Im a control freak), and this was so bouncy and thin. For a full review visit the link on the right.  The dress is bright and Im not sure if I have the confidence to wear it.  I enjoyed  making it, and if it wasnt so bright I would probably wear it often,  I need to think of a colour to go with it that tones it down but not kill it.  It felt good to finish something and have that Ta! Da!  moment.  Im already cutting out the next project.  

Hope you are enjoying your weekend whatever your craft.


Recycled Plastic Wallet

Dont you just love it when you get something for nothing, recycling and creating something new and exciting, makes me happy.  Im a thrifty girl after all.  My sister laughs at me, she thinks Im slightly bonkers.   
I loved making my recycled plastic pannier for my bike.  So I thought I would make a wallet for my son.  I used a very strong carrier bag that came from his favourite gaming shop.  He is so chuffed with it that I thought Id try and create a free Tutorial for you all.   Hope you like, and sorry if there are any errors. Any notes to consider are in red

the back showing the outer pocket

The original I made, inpsired loosly from my pocket filofax. Having 3 card flaps on the left, a purse section on the right.  
An outer pocket and a large pocket for notes.

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You will need recycled plastic bags & velcro
More  deatils on my original post about recycled plastic and my method of fusing.

The wallet is constructed by folding in half then a quarter. Please take note of this when positioning main piece on plastic especially if it has a pattern or logo, as the bottom half of the main piece will become upside down when folded. If you know what I mean!

The plastic is so springy and shiny, making it difficult to photograph.



As there is no binding on the edges I recommend topstitching to strengthen, I used red so it was more visable for you.
Machine    Main - top and bottom edge
 Pocket flap - 3 edges
                                  card flap - top and bottom (shorter edges)
             outer pocket - one long edge
              inner pocket - one long edge

Attach the velcro, see pattern and pics for positioning.  On hindsight I would attach the velcro on the fastener last of all ensuring you get a good fit.

Attach the fastener to the outer pocket, If placing it in the centre, remember that the outer pocket is half an inch longer, so you will need to place it  11/4" from the bottom of lower edge of the outer pocket.  Machine along 3 sides, then machine across the middle of the fastener to secure.
Ignore my logo as I put it upside down. Im only human

Next fold in half, then again and make some sharp creases of how the finished piece will look, also use creases as guidelines.

Attach the outer pocket to the main piece. Positioning it in the bottom right hand corner of the main piece lining it up to the centre vertical crease.
The pocket will overlap the centre horizontal crease.  Machine the 3 outer edges
NB YOU MAY NOW HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BOTTOM HALF MAKES THE OUTER WALLET AND THE
TOP HALF IS THE INSIDE OF THE WALLET



Fold the card flap as stated on pattern.  Attach to the inner pocket, placing on the left side.  Machine in place ,down the 2 vertical sides to secure.



then place the  inner pocket  onto the main piece.  See picture below.  Machine all around the outer edge of the pocket inner . Machine up the middle to secure purse section, this is not shown on pic below. 

Fold in half. two smooth sides together. 

Machine around the 3 outer edges, making sure not to catch in the fastener that is underneath.

*FINISHED*

I hope that you like it, and, more important that you can follow my instructions.  It would be interesting to hear your comments if you use it. 

And how about this wonderful idea for recycled lights, all made from coloured plastic bottles. I personally thinks this is SOoo fun.

The House with "The Lurgy"

We have had a visitor to No.23.  It started with my husband, I blame him entirely.  For two days he was so ill that he took himself to bed (very rare), he went to the doctors the following Monday

"Ive got the lurgy" he jokingly said.  "Yeap" agreed the doctor and hes been off work since. 

The next day, Tuesday I went out for the day with my two crafting  friends, this time we were heading to the Quilt Museum in York. There was a very bitter wind, and dispite the good company I did not have a good day as hoped," I was nithered all day,  and later came down with  the lurgy. Now I dont get colds like "normal folk" suffering with my sinus' .  But for the first time in about 10 years I actually needed to blow my nose, I cannot say Ive missed that one!    Any way enough of that more of the quilt museum....

The Museum, yet another beautiful building, sadly no photos were allowed of the quilts. 

The Exhibition was "Decline and Revival" in the 20th century

showing how patchworking declined during the 1st and 2nd world wars, due to the hardship.  There was a delightful suffolk puff blanket made from every type of available fabric scraped together during the second world war, that I liked.  

After the war patchworking declined  due to the competition of  manufacturing.  It wasnt until 1960's  the  revival began.  Alot of reference was made to Averil Colby.  It looks like she produced  quilts by carefully selecting  certain patterns in the fabrics, creating patterns with a pattern, a more wasteful way to how quilting was  originally done. There was also some lovely examples of Italian quilting and quilting.

The above is at the end of the revival.  It was 3 dimensional in layers, we all liked this one, very clever.   My personal favourite that inspired me was daphnes show and tell it was fun and alot of different techniques, I particularly like the descriptions of the characters,  Which one are you?

So what else has been happening.  Weve been in the gardening tidying up and moving logs, this Summer we are tackling the top end of the garden and reorganising  the sheds.  I cant wait to get out there now the snow has lifted.

 

On my last post I mentioned my ebay purchase. I was so excited, Id hoped to show you pictures (sadly the pic above is not mine) mine is in a box slowly heading for the nearest dustbin. I accepted it knowing it wasnt working.  The seller stated it should  cost about £10 to put it right.  I could have bought one in working order and it could have broken a few weeks down the line, so I thought it was worth the gamble.  These machines are 40+ years old.   We noticed a loose connection  and hoped that was the problem. Plugged it in,  it went up in smoke.  We think the motor has gone.  A friend is going to have a look at it to see if its worth repairing.  That was my 3rd Ebay disaster in a row. They say things come  in threes.